Slugging machine



June 13, 1939 ELLIOTT 2,161,858

SLUGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28 1958 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLUGGIN G Application January 28, 1938, Serial No. 187,494

In Great Britain February 26, 1937 14 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening-forming and inserting machines and is illustrated herein as embodied in a machine for severing slugs from Wire and inserting them in the bottoms of boots and shoes, of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 786,190, granted March 28, 1905, on an application filed in the name of Louis A. Casgrain.

In fastening-inserting machines of this type,

an awl is actuated to pierce the work and move the work in the direction of feed to a fasteninginserting position where the awl is withdrawn from the work and returned to' its first position whereupon a driver inserts a slug in the hole pierced by the awl. It is desirable to maintain the awl in parallel positions at all times during the work-feeding operation because if the awl is bent during the feed it flares the hole made in the work at or near the surface of the work,

thereby making the end portion of the hole too 'large for the slug subsequently driven therein and thus impairing the quality and appearance of the slugging. Furthermore, bending of the awl in the work results in frequent awl breakage.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism applicable to a fastening-inserting machine of the above type which will maintain the awl in substantially parallel positions throughout the feeding operation. This object is accomplished in the illustrated embodiment of the invention by the provision of an awlguiding member which is supported by movable members so arranged as to maintain the awl in substantially parallel positions throughout the Work feed.

It is also desirable in machines of the type disclosed to provide means for varying the length of the feeding stroke of the awl.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide improved apparatus by means of which the length of the feeding stroke of the awl may be varied. In the illustrated embodiment of this invention the awl-feeding mechanism includes shiftable pivotally connected members and the improved apparatus for varying the length of the feeding stroke comprises an adjustable device connected to the pivotally connected members so as to vary the paths of movement of these members and thus vary the length of the shifting 5 stroke transmitted by them. In addition to regulating the length of the feeding stroke, the illustrated adjusting device is also arranged to maintain constant the position of the awl at the end of the feeding stroke.

: 5 A further feature of this invention resides in the work by the descent of the driver.

the provision of a cover plate provided with a guideway for the reception of a reciprocating driver bar. Thus arranged, the cover plate prevents the operator from beingdistracted by the sight of moving parts by removing them from his 5 sight, and also acts as a guide for the reciprocating driver bar. The cover plate is also provided with a closure member having a projection thereon arranged to cooperate with the shearing mechanism to prevent the escape of a sheared l0 slug.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the appended claims. 15

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation of the fastening-inserting machine embodying the present invention, the outline of the cover plate for the front of the machine being indicated by a broken 20 line; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, part of said cover plate being shown in section.

The illustrated machine comprises a reciprocating driver 4, a work-feeding awl 3, a rotary slug-shearing and transferring mechanism 5, and a work support 11. The slug-shearing and transferring mechanism comprises a member I mounted on the rotary member 5 and having an 30 opening 9 extending therethrough. The member l is rotated in a clockwise direction by the member 5 until the throat 9 registers with the passage in a shearing die I I at which time a section of wire is fed through the passage in the '3 shearing die and into the member 1 which is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 1, to shear the slug from the wire and to transfer it into a vertical'position under the driver, from which position it is driven into 5 The shearing and transferring mechanism is similar to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,052,659, granted September 1, 1936, on an application filed in the name of F. Ricks et al., to 145 which reference may be had for details of the slug-shearing and transferring mechanism.

Located adjacent to theshearing member 1 is a block [3 which is slidably mounted in horizontal guideways in a presser plate l5, and is connected '1 to a safety device for rendering inoperative the wire-feeding mechanism; The wire-feeding mechanism, together with the safety device for rendering the same inoperative, is similar to that disclosed in United States'Letters Patent No.

2,011,683, granted August 20, 1935, on an application filed in the name of H. Lane et al. The block l3 of the illustrated embodiment of this invention corresponds to the block 46 of the patent, while the plate |5 corresponds to the presser plate 48 of the patent. The arrangement is such that should an undriven slug or broken driver project outwardly from the end of the throat 9 when the shearing and transferring mechanism 5 is turned in a clockwise direction from the slugdriving position this slug or broken driver will serve to displace the block I3 and thus release the wire-feeding mechanism.

The mechanism for moving the awl 3 into and out of engagement with the work comprises an awl-carrying block 2| to which the awl is clamped by a screw |9. The carrying block 2| is fastened to the lower end of a slidable awl bar 23 by a bolt 25 which extends through an elongated opening in the awl bar (not shown) and into threaded engagement with the block 2|, and by a second bolt 21 arranged at right angles to the bolt 25. :A portion ofthe head of the bolt 21 is received in a slot (not shown) in the adjacent inclined face of the block 2| and its shank is threaded into an opening in the awl bar 23. To adjust the block 2| transversely of the direction ofthe awl feed and thus adjust the position of the awl in this direction the screw 25 is first loosened, after which the screw 21 is turned until the block 2| is moved to the desired position, when the screw 25 is tightened to clamp the block and bar together. The bar 23 is movable in a vertical guideway in an awl carrier 29 and is connected by a stud 3| to the lower ends of a pair of link members 33 which'are located in the front and rear of the bar 23, as viewed in Fig. 1. The upper end of the double link 33 is pivoted at 35 to the left-hand end of an arm 31 of a bell-crank lever 38 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 39. Set

rearwardly of the arm 31 and connected thereto by a U-shaped bridge piece 43 is a second arm 4| of the bell crank 38 havingat itsend a cam roll 45 engaging in a cam track at the 'rear surface of the cam 41 fixed to the main shaft 49 of the machine. As the shaft 49 rotates, the cam 41 serves through the parts just described to impart to the awl 3 its downward work-piercing stroke at the'beginning of feed and its upward retracting stroke at the end of feed.

The awl carrier 29 which guides the movement "of the awl into and out of engagement with the end of the lnk 5| is pivoted to the frame of the machine by a pin 63. The upper end of the link 53 is keyed to a rearwardly extending pin '65 which passes through a bore in a fixed web of the frame and has keyed to its rearward end a short arm 61 extending downwardly therefrom.

The link 5| is located at a lower level than the link 53 and the lower surface 34 of the carrier 29 is inclined upwardly from the left to the right, asviewed in Fig. 1, at an angle of about to the horizontal, thus providing a clearance around the slug-drivingstation to permit easy manipulation of the work. The lower end of the arm 61 is pivotally connected to the left- 7 hand end portion of a double link 69, the other The . between the pin 86 and the stud 81.

crank lever has an upwardly extending arm 11 5 carrying a cam roll 19 which engages in a cam track formed in the forward surface of a cam 8| located rearwardly of the cam 41 and fixed to the main shaft 49 of the machine.

The movement imparted to the carrier 29 by 1 the cam 8| constitutes the awl feed, and the amount of this movement is regulated by controlling the path of movement of the pin 1| which forms the pivotal connection between the links 69 and 13. path of movement of the pin 1| comprises a link 83 pivoted at its lower end to the pin 1| and connected at its upper end to an arm 85 of a bell-crank lever 88 by a pin 86. The bell-crank lever 88 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal stud 81 fixed to the machine frame. Secured to the outer end of a second arm 89 of the bell crank 88 is a stud 9| which extends through an arcuate slot 93 in a web 95 projecting from themachine frame.

93 is a clamping wheel 91 which, when screwed down into engagement with the web 95, will hold. the bell crank 88 in any desired position. In the arrangement just described the link 83 which controls the path of movement of the pin 1|, and hence the extent of the awl feed, swings about the pin 86 as a center and by shifting the bell crank 88 the position of the pin 86: is, ad-

justed thereby changing the path of ncitementbe pointed out, as to maintain constant the position of the awl at the end of the feeding stroke. The distance between the pin 86 and the pin 1| is substantially the same as the distance The arm 15 and link 13 are so proportioned that the arm:

15, when moved to its lowermost position, will cause the pin 1| to be moved downwardly and inwardly about the pin 86 as a center, as viewed in Fig. 1, into a position where it is substantially coaxial with the stud 81. Return movement of the arm 15 from its lowermost position will carry the pin 1| upwardly and outwardly from the stud 81 and in a path traced about the pin 86 as a center. Thus, while the paths traversed by the pin 1| about the pin 86 as a center may differ,

depending upon the setting of the bell crank,

a '65 Fixed to the front of the machine by screws |0| is a stationary cover plate 99, the outline of which is indicated by a broken line |09in Fig. 1 and a portion thereof is shown in section in Fig. 2. Formed on the inner side vof the cover plate is a vertical slideway I03 which receives and guides the reciprocating driver bar I65. The

'driver'bar is provided with a rearwardly extend-,-

ing cam roll I09 which is received in a cam track 7 formed on the forward faceof the cam 41,

The means for controlling the 15 Threaded on the end portion 25 -of the stud 9| which projects through the slot and the meanswhich cam trackserves to impart in proper time relation to the other parts of the machine the operating movement of the driver 4.

The cover plate 99 is cut away at its lower middle portion so as to form a slot H3 in the front of the locality of the driver. This slot is normally closed by a door H3 which is the same shape as the slot and is shown in broken lines in this drawing, this door being similar to the cover 10 shown in Patent No. 2,011,683 to Lane et al., above referred to. However, this door H3 differs from that shown in the Lane patent by being provided with a rearwardly projecting finger or flange l2 which is so positioned as to close the end of the opening 9 when this opening has been moved into registering relation with the passage in'the die H and will thus serve to prevent a sheared slug from being projected right through the opening. If desired, the door may be swung open so as to expose the parts lying therebehind without it being necessary to remove the cover plate.

The operation of the machine will now be briefly summarized. The work to be operated upon is pressed upwardly against the under side of the plate [5 by the work support IT, in which position it is pierced by the awl 3 upon its downward movement. While in piercing engagement with the work the awl is moved forward by the awl carrier 29 to feed the work to a fasteninginserting position beneath the driver 4, where the awl is withdrawn from the work and returned to its initial position. Thereupon a slug is moved, by the shearing and transferring members 5, 1, into alinement with the hole pierced in the work by the awl, and the driver 4 is then operated to insert the slug into the hole.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the work, and means for reciprocating said awl for feeding the work, said means comprising an awl carrier and a swinging support for said awl carrier constructed and arranged to maintain the awl in substantially parallel positions throughout its feeding movement.

2. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl bar for moving an awl into and out of piercing engagement with the work, a carrier constructed and arrangedto receive the bar and guide its movements relatively to the work, means for moving said carrier in a work feed direction when the awl is in piercing engagement with the work for feeding the same, and pivoted supporting means for the carrier arranged to maintain the angular relation between the awl and the work substantially constant so long as the awl is in engagement with the work.

3. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the work, an awl carrier constructed and arranged for guiding said awl in its movement toward and away from the work, means for moving said carrier when said awl is in engagement with the work for feeding the same, and substantially parallel pivoted links for supporting said awl carrier, said links being so arranged as to maintain the awl in parallel positions throughout its feeding movement.

4. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl bar arranged to reciprocate vertically for moving an awl into and out of piercing engagement with the Work, an awl carrier provided with a guideway arranged to receive the bar and guide its vertical movements relatively to the work, means for moving the carrier laterally when the awl is in piercing engagement with the work to feed the same, and parallel pivoted members for supporting the carrier, said members being so proportioned and arranged as to maintain the guideway in the awl carrier in parallel positions throughout the feeding stroke thereby maintaining the angular relation of the awl with respect to the- 0 work constant throughout the feed.

5. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl, means for reciprocating said awl vertically to form an awl hole in the work, said means comprising a lever controlled by the operating mechanism of the machine and pivoted connections between the lever and the awl, an awl carrier constructed and arranged for guiding said awl in its movement toward and away from the work, means for moving the carrier when the awl:

is in engagement with the work to feed the same, and pivoted supporting means for said awl carrier arranged to maintain the awl in substantially parallel positions throughout its feeding movement.

6. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the work, mechanism for shifting the awl while in engagement with the work for feeding the same, said mechanism including a pair of links, and means for adjusting the length of the feeding stroke of the awl comprising an adjustable member for varying the path of movement of the links.

7. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl bar for moving an awl into and out of piercing engagement with the work, an awl carrier constructed and arranged to receive the bar and guide its movements relatively to the work, mechanism for reciprocating the carrier for feeding the work, said mechanism comprising a pair of pivotally connected links, and means for changing the path of movement of the pivotal connection between the links thereby to regulate the extent of the feeding stroke.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an awl bar arranged to move an awl into and out of engagement with the work, an awl carrier constructed and arranged to guide the bar in its movements relatively to the work, pivoted supporting members for supporting said carrier constructed and arranged to maintain the awl in substantially parallel positions throughout its feeding stroke, means for reciprocating the carrier for feeding the work,

said means including a pair of pivoted links, one 7 of said links being connected to one of the pivoted supporting members, a swinging member coupled to the connection between the links, said swinging member controlling the path of movement of the point of connection between the links, and means for changing the center about which said swinging member moves thereby to change the horizontal component of movement of the connection between the links and thus vary the extent of feed of the awl.

9. In a machine of the class described, an awl bar arranged to move an awl into and out of piercing engagement with the work, an awl carrier arranged to guide the bar in its movements relatively to the Work, means for reciprocating said carrier for feeding the work, said means comprising a pair of pivotally connected links, a swinging member coupled to the connection between the links, said swinging member controlling Ithe'path of movement ofthe connection between the links, and a member for changing the center about which said swinging member moves thereby to vary the extent of the feeding stroke transmitted to the carrier.

10. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the work, mechanism for shifting the awl while in engagement with the work for feeding the same, and an adjustable arm connected to said mechanism arranged to regulate thlel length of the feeding stroke while maintaining constant the position of the awl at the end of the feeding stroke.

11. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the work, mechanism for shifting the awl while in engagement withthe work for feeding the same, said mechanism comprising a pair of pivotally connected links, and an adjusting device for said mechanism arranged to regulate the length of the feed stroke while maintaining constant the position of the awl at the end of the stroke, said device comprising a swinging member coupled to the pivotal connection between the links and arranged to control the path of movement of said connection, and an adjustable pivoted arm arranged to change the center about which the member swings, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that the axis of the pivotal connection between the links substantially coincides with that of the adjustable arm at one end of the feed stroke.

12. In a fastening-inserting machine, an awl bar arranged to move an awl into and out of piercing engagement with the work, an awl carof pivotally connected links for transmitting 25 motion to the carrier, and an adjusting device for said means arranged to regulate the length of the feed stroke while maintaining constant the position of the awl at the end of the stroke, said device comprising an adjustable arm and a swing-p10 ingmember connecting said arm and the pivotal connection between the links.

13. In a fastening-inserting machine comprising a rotary cam and a driving member having a cam follower mounted thereon which is received:, -15 in said cam, the combination of a cover plate attached to said machine, said cover plate including a guideway arranged to receive said reciprocating driving member to guide its movements into and out of driving position, and to hold the follower go in engagement with the cam, v

14. In a fastening-inserting machine having a slug-shearing and transferring mechanism comprising a wire-feeding mechanism including a die through which the wire is fed, and an oscillatingazs shearing and transferring member having a passageway therein arranged to receive a slug from the feeding mechanism, the combination of a casing for enclosing an end of the machine, said casing including a closure member having a rearwardly projecting stop arranged to close one end of the passageway in the transferring member when the same is in register with the die in the wire-feeding mechanism.

' 35 HAROLD ERNEST ELLIOTT; 

